Knock-down heat bath appliance



Oct. 30, 1934. M. BLUNT KNOCKDOWN HEAT BATH APPLIANCE Filed March 15,1933 2 Sheets-Sheet QMM ATTORNEY Oct. 30, 1934. M. BLUNT 1,979,094-

KNOCKDOWN HEAT BATH APPLIANCE Filed March 15, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Oct. 30, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This inventionrelates to a knock-down heat bath appliance, one wherein a pliablecanopy complies to and can be draped over a knock-down frame operativelysupported on a stool disposed within the canopy, the canopy having acentral opening and an adjoining zipper closed slot or separation,whereby the opening may be made to fit around the neck of the occupantof the stool, there being an indicator or gauge carried by the top ofthe canopy adjacent the separation or slot for indicating the degrees ofheat within the canopy.

Said appliance also has for its purpose the provision of a heating unitincluding a support to be removably suspended from the bottom of thestool and including a cord having a hand switch within the canopy and aplug at the end of the cord for cooperation with any electrical outletin the wall of a room for furnishing current to the unit, whereby heatmay be generated within the canopy, the switch acting to turn on and offthe current.

Another purpose of the invention is that the support for the heatingunit includes a deflector in the form of an insulator between theheating unit and the bottom of the stool. This deflector and insulatorconsists of a plate removably suspended from the under surface of thestool seat and is provided with a marginal flange, there being heatinsulating means secured to the plate within the flange said heatinsulating means including two thicknesses of asbestos, one of a softcharacter, the other being exteriorly and of a hardened character,thereby preventingthe heat from being transmitted from the circularplate to the seat of the stool, the plate of such support being of adiameter that will direct the heat outwardly and upwardly on such anangle from the under portion of the seat of the stool, as to prevent theheat from being transmitted to the plate and then to the under surfaceof the seat of the stool.

It is to be understood that the particulars herein given are in no waylimitative, and that while still keeping within the scope of theinvention, any desired modification of details and proportions may bemade in the construction of the appliance according to circumstances.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts to behereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a View in perspective of the im-' provedknock-down heat bath appliance con-- structedin accordance with theinvention showing the appliance in use, there being an occupant therein.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the canopy showing thestool in perspective, part of the canopy in perspective with theoccupant therein.

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the stool showing part of thesupports for the frame.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view of the supporting frame for the canopy collapsed.

Figure 6 is a View with a portion of the seat 2 in section and the metalshield 44a in section, the marginal flange 35 in edge elevation, andother attendant parts associated therewith in elevation, more clearlydisclosing the structure.

Referring to the drawings 1 identifies a stool, which comprises a seat 2which may have any suitable finish and provided with a downward marginalflange 3. Riveted or otherwise secured to the flange at 4 at the fourcorners of the stool are legs 5, which are made of angle iron, andriveted to the legs at '7 near their lower ends are angle iron braces 8.The legs may be provided with any suitable finish while the braces maybe finished in any conventional manner. Adjacent the two front cornersof the flange of the seat' extensions 10 of sockets 11 are fastened byany suitable means preferably electrically welded, certain of the rivetsfor the front legs passing through the extension of the sockets. To theflange of the seat at the rear thereof an extension 12 of a third socket13 is electrically welded. A plurality of supports 14 for a canopysupporting ring 15 is provided. Each of these supports 14 comprises along section 16 and a short section 17 pivotally united at 18. The longsection consists of relatively heavy twisted wire as shown, the loop atthe lower end receiving the pivot 19. The upper portions of therelatively heavy twisted wire diverge upwardly into arms 20 whichterminate in eyes 21 to receive the canopy supporting ring, there beingflxed collars 22 on the ring adjacent the remote sides of the eyes ofthe arms to prevent any displacement thereof. The short sections of thesupports have down turned ends which engage into the sockets carried bythe flange of the stool seat.

A canopy 23 includinga circular part 24 and a skirt 25 is provided. Thecircular part corresponds in diameter tothe supporting ring and engagestherewith, while the skirt drapes down over the frame. The approximatecenter of the circular part has an opening 26 which fits around the neckof the occupant, while the circular part has a separation 27 extendingradially from the central opening, and the edges of the separation 27may be closed by a suitable zipper fastener 28. Adjacent this separationan indicator or gauge 29 is provided, from which the occupant can easilyobserve the temperature of the interior of the canopy.

A tongue 30 is electrically welded to the under surface of the seat ofthe stool, the free part of the tongue being spaced from the seat. Abracket 31 is provided having flanges 32 constituting guides to engagewith the tongue for suspending the bracket. Secured to lateral ends ofthe arms of the bracket by screws is a deflector 33. This deflectorcomprises a metal plate 34 with a marginal flange 35 and secured to theplate 34 are suitable discs of heat insulators 36,and 37, the insulator36 being of soft asbestos and the insulator 37 being of hardenedasbestos with a lower exterior finish. A support 38 for a heatingelement'39 is'provided. Thissupport comprises a metal ring 40 and aporcelain dependent 41 secured'together at'42. The securing screws forthe lateral ends of the arms of the bracket pass into the ring. Theporcelain dependent has the usual threaded socket for the heatingelement, there being the usual protecting cage 44 clamped about therestricted end of the porcelain dependent. In Figure 6 instead of thecage 44 a very slightly tapered metal shield 44a is clamped about therestricted end of the porcelain dependent and is provided withperforations 44b which allows'the excessive heat to escape and bedeflected by the deflector 33. A suitable cord 45 including interiorconductors (not shown) pass hand switch 47 having the conventional typeof push buttons 48 and 49, whereby the current may be turned on and off.In using the apparatus the frame may be con- 9 nected to the sockets ofthe stool, then the canopy can be draped over the frame, it having beenfirst placed over the user while sitting on the stool, the hand switchbeing within the canopy, so that after closing the separation in thecircular part of the canopy the switch may be turned on for supplyingcurrent to the heating element. The occupant remains within theappliancefor a time sufficient to create a thorough sweat, it beingpossible for the occupant to observe the gauge or indicator in order toobserve the temperature on the interior.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed is: r i

1. In a heat bath appliance, a portable seat provided with a heat unitsuspended from its under surface, a frame havingarms extending outwardlyand upwardly from the seat and capable of being collapsed when removed,and a canopy comprising a top conforming to the top of the frame andsupported on the upper ends of the arms and having a skirt draped downthe sides of the frame enclosing the seat on which the occupant issupported, the approximate center of the canopy top provided with anopening and a radial separationwith closing means therefor to permit ofthe admission of the head and neck with means for deflecting andinsulating the heat from the seat, a frame having arms detachablyconnected to the seat and extending outwardly and upwardly and beingcapable of collapsing when removed, a canopy having a top conforming tothe top of the frame and including a circular skirt draped down aroundthe frame, the approximate center of the canopy top having an opening toengage around the neck of the occupant who may occupy the seat, and aseparation extending from the opening provided with closing means toallow the admission of the occupants head for fastening the opeingaround the occupants neck, and means for turning on and 9 off thecurrent'to the heating element.

} 3. In a portable heat bath appliance, the combination with a seatprovided with a heating unit suspended from its under surface, thesuspension" means for the heating unit including a deflector and heatinsulating means for deflecting and insulatig the heat from theseat, ofa frame removably supported on the seat, said frame having.

collapsible arms extending outwardly and upwardly and having at theirupper portions canopy supporting means, a canopy having a top portionconforming to the canopy supporting means and including a skirt drapeddown around the frame and the seat, the approximate center of the canopytop having an opening for the neck of the occupant who may rest on theseat, and a separation including a closing means'extending radially fromthe margin'of the opening for permitting the admission of the occupantshead and neck. I

4. In a portable knock-downflheat bath appliance, a seat having aheating unit detachably suspended from the under surface of the seat, aframe removably supported on the seat, said frame comprising arms and acanopy supporting ring at the upper ends of the arms, said arms eachcomprising long and short sections pivotally united, the latter sectionsextending outwardly from the seat, and the former sections beingpivotally connected to the ring, whereby when the frame is detached itmay be collapsed, and a canopy having a top conforming to and engagingthe ring at the top of the frame and provided with a skirt draped aroundand downwardly of the frame and seat, the top of the canopy having anopening for the neck of the occupant, who may be supported on the seat,and a separation provided with closing zipper means extending radiallyfrom the opening for permitting of the admission of the occupants headfor fitting the opening around the neck of the occupant.

5. In a portable heat bath appliance, the com-' bination with a seatprovided with a heating unit removably suspended from its under surface,said suspension means having a combined deflector and insulator forpreventing the heat from the unit being transmitted to the seat, of aframe removably supported on the seat, said frame compris ing arms and acircular canopy supporting ring at their upper ends, said arms eachconsisting of long and short sections pivotally-united, the lattersections extending outwardly from the seat, the former sections beingpivotally connected to the ring, a canopy'having a' top conforming tothe ring and provided witha skirt draped around and enclosing the frameand the seat, the approximate center of the canopy top having an openingfor the reception of the neck of the occupant who may occupy the seat, aseparation in the top of the canopy provided with closing means to allowthe head of the occupant to pass through the opening whereby the lattermay be fitted around the occupants neck, and means including a handswitch for turning off and on the current to the heating element.

6. In a heat bath appliance, a portable seat provided with a heat unit,a canopy comprising a circular top portion and a depending circularskirt housing the seat, an annular member cor-

